St. Paul staff outline proposed cannabis retail registration: zoning attestation, hours and event rules

City staff on Wednesday outlined proposed ordinance amendments to implement state retail cannabis registration in St. Paul, explaining the city’s registration role, zoning duties and proposed local rules for operating hours and temporary events.

“Cannabis registration, arguably the most regulated thing that the state has taken on since liquor,” Director Wasey told the policy committee, noting the state law and rules run more than 250 pages combined: “the law itself is about a 120 pages. The rules are about a 130 pages.” The city’s role, staff said, focuses on zoning compliance, fees and annual youth compliance checks; most operational enforcement is by the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM).

Staff said the state statute creates 16 license types but city registration is required only for retail license types; in St. Paul staff identified five retail categories that will require registration. To receive a city registration an applicant must have OCM approval, pay the registration fee, be current on property taxes and…